. >>> let's bring in tim boyd, ceo of peak reports. i'll start with the most obvious question.lifts are actually open? >> we actually have two ski areas that are operational up in vermont, new hampshire. we expect to get more of our ski areas online this weekend. next week, it looks like the weather is going to switch back to the winter. we expect to ramp up very quickly. >> is this relative to past seasons, the latest you have opened in a number of years or not? >> no. historically, our three major holiday periods are christmas, martin luther king and presidents' day. generally speaking, the christmas holiday is always the least reliable because it is at the beginning of the season when obviously the weather is the least reliable. >> with the temperatures where they are, i assume you are able to manufacture some snow. how long does it last? is that a challenge? >> during this warm period, we made quite a bit of snow last weekend at some of our areas. we left it in piles and didn't touch it. it actually stands up to this weather pretty well. on saturday, we will be pushing thos